What Makes Someone Truly Powerful in Christ?

Real Power Doesn’t Come Instantly — It Takes Time and Growth

Real power in Christ is a journey, not a quick fix. As youth, we’re used to fast results—streaming instantly or answers at our fingertips. But growing spiritually strong is more like planting a seed and watching it become a mighty tree. It takes time, nurturing, and patience. The Bible encourages us that God is continually at work in us: “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”biblehub.com. In other words, God is growing you little by little each day.

It’s easy to feel small or weak when you’re just starting out or struggling. You might look at a mature Christian and think, “I could never be that strong.” But remember, every great believer started small. Even miracles often unfold slowly—“many miracles take time and remarkable patience”desiringgod.org. God’s power in your life can begin as something tiny (like faith the size of a mustard seed) and over time, with prayer and life experiences, it develops into real strength. Just as an athlete trains over months and years to build muscle, your spiritual muscles grow with each step of trusting God through ups and downs.

Be encouraged to embrace the process. Don’t be discouraged if change seems slow. Every prayer you say, every lesson you learn from a mistake, and every moment you choose to do the right thing is helping you grow stronger in Christ. Real power doesn’t happen overnight. It’s okay to be in progress – God is patient with you, so be patient with yourself. Keep seeking Jesus daily, and in time you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come. (Next up, we’ll discover how sometimes the greatest strength is found in the most quiet people.)

True Strength Often Comes from Quiet People

Not all strong people shout their strength from the rooftops. In fact, some of the truly powerful individuals in Christ are the quiet ones—the people who don’t make a lot of noise but have a deep, steady faith. The world might tell us that being loud, popular, or bold is the same as being strong. But God’s perspective is very different. Scripture says, “In quietness and trust shall be your strength”prayerteam365.com, suggesting that strength can be found in a peaceful, trusting heart rather than an aggressive attitude.

Think about people in your life who have a calm presence. They might not be the most talkative in the room, but when they do speak, it’s full of wisdom and love. Their strength shows in patience, understanding, and steady faith. Jesus Himself valued gentleness and humility (Matthew 11:29), and He often sought out quiet places to pray. The Bible teaches that it’s the “meek” (gentle, humble people) who will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). This means God’s kind of strength isn’t about dominating others—it’s about a gentle spirit that relies on Him.

To see the difference, consider these two kinds of “power”:

• Worldly Power: Loud, attention-seeking, and concerned with having control or being seen as important. This kind of strength often depends on bragging, bullying, or outward show.
• Quiet Strength: Calm confidence rooted in faith. It doesn’t need to prove itself to others. A quiet strong person might be the one who stands firm in honesty, shows kindness when others don’t, or prays silently for everyone around them. Their power comes from God within them, not from outward bluster.

Remember that quiet does not equal weak. You can be a naturally quiet or introverted person and still be a powerful force for good. Maybe you’re the friend who listens well, or the one who prays for others behind the scenes—those are signs of strength. If you’re more outspoken, that’s okay too; God can use any personality. But He often shows us that true strength is demonstrated in actions more than words. Next time you feel overlooked because you’re not the loudest, know that God sees your gentle strength and can use it in big ways. (In our next post, we’ll talk about one big reason these “quiet strong” people are so solid: their good character and ethics.)

Good Ethics and Character Are Foundations of Power

Being powerful in Christ isn’t about position or popularity—it’s built on character. Imagine power like a building: if the foundation is shaky, the whole building falls. In the same way, talents or charisma mean nothing if someone lacks integrity. The Bible repeatedly shows that doing what is right gives a person true strength. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” says Proverbsministrybrands.com. When you do the right thing—even when no one’s watching—you gain a stability and confidence that no shortcut or cheat can ever give you.

Think of biblical heroes: Daniel refused to lie or worship false gods, and God protected him in the lion’s den; Joseph stayed moral when tempted, and eventually he was put in charge over all of Egypt. Their ethical choices were the bedrock for the influence and power God entrusted to them. Closer to home, being a person of your word (keeping promises, being honest, treating others fairly) might not always make you popular, but it earns you trust and respect, which are far more valuable. People know they can rely on someone who consistently shows good character, and God can entrust that person with more responsibility and impact. Jesus said that if you’re faithful with small things, you’ll be trusted with bigger things (Luke 16:10).

Building character isn’t always easy. It can mean turning down an invite to something you know isn’t right, or speaking up when others are gossiping. It might mean admitting when you’re wrong. These choices can be tough in the moment, but every act of integrity is like strengthening your core. Over time, it forms a reputation and inner courage that are unshakable. A life built on lies or bad behavior might seem to “win” for a short time, but it collapses eventually (Proverbs 10:9b says crooked paths will be found out). By contrast, a life built on Christ-like character stands firm.

Good ethics are empowering. When your conscience is clear, you can face challenges without fear. You don’t have to worry about secrets catching up to you. As one commentary put it, integrity lays the groundwork for a secure life, free of the fear of being caught in lies ministrybrands.com. You stand on solid ground. So if you want to be truly powerful in Christ, start with who you are when no one’s looking. Let kindness, honesty, and faithfulness be your superpowers. God delights in those traits, and He will make sure your “foundation” is one that He can build great things upon. (Coming up next: we’ll see how having that solid character inside also helps you stay emotionally strong and at peace.)

Emotionally Strong People Maintain Peace in Their Moods

True power in Christ shows up in a steady heart and balanced emotions. We all know someone (or maybe it’s us!) who can’t control their temper or who gets thrown off by every little problem. It’s normal to feel anger, fear, or sadness—God created us with emotions—but powerful Christians learn to manage those feelings with God’s help. The Bible says, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city”biblehub.com. In other words, someone who can rule their own spirit and stay calm is actually stronger than a mighty warrior! Controlling your mood is a form of strength.

Maintaining peace in your moods doesn’t mean you’re always chill or never feel upset. It means when you do feel those intense emotions, you don’t let them control your actions. You pause and seek God’s peace. For example, if a friend betrays you, the easy reaction is to lash out or sink into bitterness. But a powerful person in Christ will take a breath and perhaps pray, “Lord, this hurts; help me respond in a way that honors You.” Or if you’re stressed about exams or the future, instead of spiraling into anxiety, you remember God’s promise of peace and guidance. Emotionally strong believers anchor their feelings to trust in God. They still feel things deeply, but they invite Jesus into those feelings and find a calm center. The “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” is ready to guard our hearts when we turn to Him (Philippians 4:7).

Practical habits can help you maintain this peace and emotional strength. Here are a few tips for when your emotions feel overwhelming:

• Pause and Pray: The moment you start to feel rage, panic, or despair swelling up, take a timeout. Even a quick prayer like, “Jesus, give me Your peace right now,” can make a huge difference. It invites God into the situation before you react.
• Take a Breather: It’s okay to step away for a minute. Take a walk, breathe deeply, or listen to a worship song. Removing yourself briefly can prevent an emotional explosion. “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18). Give yourself that chance to cool down.
• Recall God’s Promises: When you feel discouraged or angry, remind yourself of a promise from Scripture. For example, if you’re anxious, recall that God cares for you and is working things for your good (1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:28). Replacing swirling negative thoughts with God’s truth brings stability to your mood.
• Talk to a Trusted Friend or Mentor: Sometimes processing your feelings with someone who has godly wisdom can help you regain peace. They can pray with you and offer perspective.

By doing these things, you’re not bottling up emotions—you’re guiding them with God’s help. Emotional strength in Christ looks like being upset but not controlled by that upset. It looks like being hurt but choosing to forgive, or being worried but choosing to trust. When others see you staying calm under pressure or responding to drama with kindness, it’s a powerful witness. It shows that Jesus makes a real difference in how we live. And even if no one else sees it, God sees when you quietly conquer an emotional storm with His peace, and that victory is huge. (Next, we’ll talk about how being powerful doesn’t mean life is always easy—strong Christians have hard times too, but they handle them with God’s strength.)

Powerful People Are Not Always Happy, But They Know How to Handle Difficulty

Being “powerful in Christ” doesn’t mean you walk around smiling 24/7 with a perfect life. Realistically, even the strongest believers face bad days, sadness, or hardships. The difference is not that they never struggle—it’s that they don’t give up in the struggle. Instead, they’ve learned to rely on God and push through difficulties with hope. Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. In fact, He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”biblehub.com. This means even when things are tough, we can have courage knowing Jesus is bigger than any problem. True power shows up in perseverance: hanging on to faith when life is hard.

Think of someone you consider spiritually strong. Chances are, that person has been through some stuff—maybe family issues, illness, loneliness, or failure. What makes them inspiring is how they handled it. They might say, “It was God who got me through.” When you hit difficulties, you have the same opportunity to grow in strength. Instead of thinking, “If I were a better Christian, I’d always be happy,” realize that God often uses challenges to make you stronger. James 1:2-4 famously teaches that trials produce endurance, and endurance grows character. It’s like resistance training for your soul; without some weight to lift, your spiritual muscles won’t grow. So if you’re facing something hard—an uphill battle at school, a broken friendship, anxiety about the future—know that this could be the very thing God uses to build you up.

Being powerful in Christ means having joy and hope even when you’re not feeling “happy.” It’s deeper than a surface smile. You learn to say, “It is well with my soul,” like the old hymn, even through tears, because you trust God is with you. Powerful people can cry, but they cry while praying and trusting. They get frustrated, but they bring that frustration to Jesus and don’t lash out at others. They may feel afraid, but they choose to move forward knowing God’s got their back. The Apostle Paul, one of the strongest Christians ever, wrote that he was “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). That’s the resilience we’re talking about!

If you’re in a tough season right now, take heart. You’re not failing at faith; you’re training for greater strength. Lean on God’s promises—like knowing He’ll never leave you (Hebrews 13:5) and that every hardship can teach you something. Reach out to supportive friends or mentors for prayer. Remember times in the past when God helped you; that same God is with you now. Each time you endure a challenge with God, you come out on the other side a little tougher, a little wiser, and a lot closer to Him. Joy will return in time, and it will be a deeper joy because you saw God carry you through the storm. The most powerful Christians aren’t those with zero scars; they’re the ones who can point to their scars and say, “God healed me, and He’ll help heal you too.” (Finally, in our last post, we’ll reveal the ultimate secret to all these aspects of power: staying connected to Jesus through prayer.)

The Most Powerful People Stay United with Jesus Through Prayer

Staying connected to the source of power is the key to being powerful in Christ. Imagine an electric device trying to run without being plugged in—it simply won’t work. In the same way, we can’t operate on spiritual strength if we’re not plugged into Jesus. He said it plainly: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing”biblehub.com. The most powerful Christians know this truth deep down. All the patience, quiet strength, integrity, emotional peace, and perseverance we’ve talked about in this series come from staying close to Jesus. And the way we stay close is largely through prayer.

Prayer is our lifeline to Christ. It’s not just about saying ritual words or presenting a wishlist—prayer is an ongoing conversation and connection with the Lord. When we pray, we draw strength from God Himself. Think of how your phone needs recharging; prayer is like regularly charging your heart with God’s power and peace. People who make prayer a habit often exude a kind of calm confidence. It’s not that they’re strong on their own—they’ve just spent a lot of time with the All-Powerful One. The Bible gives an example of how effective prayer can be: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”biblehub.com. When you’re living in Christ (striving to do what’s right) and you pray, things happen. Your prayers can encourage someone, invite God’s help into tough situations, and even change your own heart.

Being “united with Jesus” through prayer means you include Him in your daily life. It’s not only about a formal prayer time (though setting aside daily quiet time to pray is awesome); it’s also about whispering a quick prayer in the middle of your day, thanking God for small wins, or asking for help under your breath when you feel weak. It’s about constantly being aware that Jesus is with you like a close friend. The strongest believers aren’t strong because of their own willpower—they’re strong because they know where their help comes from. They tap into God’s strength by praying in all sorts of moments: when they wake up, before a test, when they’re tempted to do wrong, or when they’re worried or excited.

You might wonder, “How can I stay united with Jesus when life gets busy?” It can start small. Try to make prayer as natural as texting a friend. Short “God, help me with this” or “Thank you, Lord” prayers throughout the day keep you connected. Also, spend some time each day (morning or night) to really focus on God—read a Bible verse and talk to Him about your day. Join others in prayer too; praying with friends or at youth group can boost your faith. When you do these things, you’ll notice you worry less and trust more. Over time, you become one of those people who just radiate the love and strength of Jesus.

In truth, everything we’ve discussed in this series flows from a life of prayerful connection to Christ. By taking time with Him, He empowers you to grow patiently, to be quietly strong, to live with integrity, to stay calm in chaos, and to endure hardships. The most powerful person in God’s eyes is simply the person who remains in His love. So stay plugged in to Jesus. Talk to Him often. Lean on Him in every circumstance. As you do, you’ll discover a power at work in you that is far beyond what you have on your own—a power that truly changes you and impacts the world around you. And remember, God is delighted to give this strength to those who seek Him. With Christ as your constant source, you are never alone and never without power. Keep united with Him, and watch how He makes you truly powerful in all the ways that matter.

“…Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31). Amen.